Raheem Sterling facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Raheem Sterling

Sterling with England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Raheem Shaquille Sterling
Date of birth	(1994-12-08) 8 December 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Kingston, Jamaica
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.72 m)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Chelsea
Youth career
1999–2003	Alpha & Omega
2003–2010	Queens Park Rangers
2010–2012	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2015	Liverpool	95	(18)
2015–2022	Manchester City	225	(91)
2022–	Chelsea	59	(14)
2024–2025	→ Arsenal (loan)	17	(0)
International career
2009–2010	England U16	7	(1)
2010–2011	England U17	13	(3)
2012	England U19	1	(0)
2012–2013	England U21	8	(3)
2012–2022	England	82	(20)
Medal record Men's football Representing  England UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2020 UEFA Nations League Third 2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:19, 25 May 2025 (UTC)

Raheem Shaquille Sterling (born December 8, 1994) is a professional footballer. He plays as a winger, which is a player who attacks from the sides of the field. He currently plays for Chelsea. He also played for the England national team.

Sterling started his career at Queens Park Rangers. He then joined Liverpool in 2010. In 2014, he won the Golden Boy award, which is given to the best young player in Europe. In 2015, he moved to Manchester City for a large transfer fee. He helped Manchester City win the Premier League title four times. He also won the FA Cup and the League Cup multiple times with them.

In 2019, he was named the PFA Young Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year. He joined Chelsea in July 2022. For the 2024–25 season, he played for Arsenal on loan. He returned to Chelsea in June 2025. Sterling has played for England's national team since 2012. He has represented England in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Raheem Shaquille Sterling was born on December 8, 1994, in Kingston, Jamaica. He spent his early childhood there. His mother, Nadine Clarke, was a competitive athlete. Sterling says her running style influenced his own. When he was two years old, his father passed away in Jamaica.

At age five, Sterling moved to Neasden, London, with his mother. He went to Copland School in Wembley. For three years, he attended Vernon House, a special school in Neasden, where he received extra support.

Starting His Club Career

Sterling played for a local youth team called Alpha & Omega for four years. At age 10, he joined Queens Park Rangers as a winger. Many big clubs, like Arsenal and Liverpool, noticed his talent. However, his mother encouraged him to choose clubs outside London. This was to help him avoid negative influences.

Playing for Liverpool

Joining the Reds

Sterling warming up for Liverpool in 2011

In February 2010, Liverpool signed Sterling from Queens Park Rangers. He was just 15 years old. The initial fee was £450,000, which could increase to £2 million. He first played for Liverpool's youth team. He scored his first goal for Liverpool in a friendly match against Hibernian. On February 14, 2011, he scored five goals in a huge 9–0 win against Southend United.

On March 24, 2012, Sterling made his first team debut for Liverpool. He came on as a substitute in a league match against Wigan Athletic. He was 17 years and 107 days old. This made him the third-youngest player to play for the club.

Becoming a Key Player

In August 2012, Sterling played his first European game for Liverpool. He came on as a substitute in a UEFA Europa League match. A week later, he scored his first goal for the senior team in a friendly. On August 23, 2012, he started his first match for Liverpool. This was a Europa League qualifying game.

He got his first league start three days later against Manchester City. On October 20, Sterling scored his first official goal for Liverpool. It was a 1–0 league win against Reading. He became the second-youngest player to score for Liverpool in a competitive game.

In December 2012, Sterling signed a new contract with Liverpool. He scored his second league goal in January 2013. This helped Liverpool win 3–0 against Sunderland.

Strong Performances and Awards

Sterling playing for Liverpool in 2013

Sterling scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season in August 2013. This was in a League Cup match. In December, he scored two more goals in league wins. On February 8, 2014, he scored twice in a 5–1 win against Arsenal. He also scored against Manchester City and Norwich City.

In April 2014, Sterling was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He was named Liverpool's Young Player of the Year at the end of the season.

Final Season with Liverpool

Sterling scored in Liverpool's first match of the 2014–15 season. He also scored against Tottenham in August. He was named Liverpool Player of the Month for August. In September, he made his UEFA Champions League debut. In December 2014, he played his 100th game for Liverpool.

On December 20, 2014, Sterling won the Golden Boy award. This award recognizes the best young player in Europe. He said he was "really happy that people are recognising that I'm trying to work hard." He was given time off in January 2015 to rest.

Sterling (right) playing for Liverpool in 2015

In January 2015, Sterling scored a great solo goal against Chelsea. He scored again against West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers. He was named Liverpool's Young Player of the Season for the second year in a row.

Moving to Manchester City

Record-Breaking Transfer

Sterling playing for Manchester City in 2016

On July 12, 2015, Sterling moved to Manchester City. The transfer fee was £44 million, plus potential bonuses. This made him the most expensive English footballer at that time. He signed a five-year contract.

He made his debut for Manchester City on August 10. He scored his first goal for the club on August 29 against Watford. On October 17, Sterling scored his first career hat-trick as City beat Bournemouth 5–1. In November, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal.

Winning Titles with City

Sterling became a regular player for Manchester City under manager Pep Guardiola. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for August 2016. In November 2017, he scored a winning goal in the 96th minute against Southampton. He scored 18 league goals in the 2017–18 season, his highest at that point.

After the 2018 World Cup, Sterling quickly returned to play for Manchester City. On August 12, 2018, he scored his 50th Premier League goal. In November 2018, he scored twice and assisted two goals against Southampton. He also signed a new contract with City until 2023.

In December 2018, Sterling spoke out about how some media reports treated young black footballers. He felt it could "fuel racism." This happened after he faced alleged racist abuse during a match against Chelsea.

In 2019, Sterling helped City win many games. He scored a hat-trick in just 13 minutes against Watford. This was the fastest hat-trick of the season. He scored twice in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham. On May 18, 2019, Sterling scored two goals in the 2019 FA Cup final. Manchester City won 6–0, completing a domestic treble (winning three major trophies in one season).

For the 2018–19 season, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year. He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

Continued Success and Milestones

Sterling (right) playing for Manchester City in 2021

In August 2019, Sterling scored in the 2019 FA Community Shield against Liverpool. Manchester City won on penalties. In City's first game of the 2019–20 Premier League, Sterling scored another hat-trick. This was his third hat-trick of that year. In October 2019, he scored his first UEFA Champions League hat-trick.

In February 2020, Sterling said he was happy at City. On July 11, 2020, he scored his third hat-trick of the season against Brighton. He finished the season with 20 league goals, his best Premier League total.

On August 7, 2020, he scored his 100th goal for Manchester City. He was the first English player to reach this number for the club since 1981.

Champions League Finalist

Sterling scored his first goals of the 2020–21 season in September 2020. He scored twice against Burnley in the EFL Cup. He also scored his first Premier League goal of the season against Leeds United. In February 2021, he scored in three league matches in a row. His goal against Liverpool was his 100th goal for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. On May 29, he played in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final. Manchester City lost 1–0 to Chelsea.

Final Season with City

Sterling scored his first goal of the 2021–22 season in August 2021. In November, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal of the season. In December, Sterling scored in four Premier League matches in a row. These goals helped him join the Premier League 100 Club. He also won the Premier League Player of the Month award for December 2021.

On February 12, 2022, Sterling scored his fifth Premier League hat-trick against Norwich City. Three days later, he scored in the Champions League. This made him one of Manchester City's top ten all-time goalscorers. He scored his final goals for the club in May 2022.

Playing for Chelsea

First Seasons at Stamford Bridge

On July 13, 2022, Sterling signed a five-year contract with Chelsea. The fee was £47.5 million. He made his club debut on August 6 in a win against Everton. On August 27, Sterling scored his first goals for Chelsea, scoring twice in a 2–1 win over Leicester City. He scored again in the next match against Southampton.

He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal for Chelsea on September 14. This was in a 1–1 draw against RB Salzburg. On March 7, 2023, Sterling scored against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Chelsea won 2–0 and moved to the quarter-finals. On May 13, he scored two goals against Nottingham Forest.

On August 25, 2023, Sterling scored his first goal of the 2023–24 season. He later scored two more goals against Luton Town. Chelsea won the match 3–0.

Loan to Arsenal

In late August 2024, Chelsea's new manager, Enzo Maresca, said Sterling might not get much playing time. On August 30, 2024, Sterling joined Arsenal on loan for the 2024–25 season. He made his first start for Arsenal on September 25. He scored a goal in a 5–1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup. His loan at Arsenal ended on June 4, 2025, and he returned to Chelsea.

International Career

Playing for England's Youth Teams

Sterling was born in Jamaica but moved to England when he was young. He has dual nationality. He first played for England's under-16 team in November 2009. He was chosen to play for England in the 2011 U-17 World Cup. He scored a long-range goal in England's first game against Rwanda. He also scored against Argentina.

In October 2012, he was called up to the England under-21 squad. He made his debut as a substitute. He scored his first goal for England U21 in August 2013. This was in a 6–0 win against Scotland.

Playing for the Senior England Team

Sterling playing for England at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

On September 10, 2012, Sterling was called up to the senior England squad. This was for a World Cup qualifying match. He made his senior debut for England on November 14, 2012, in a friendly match against Sweden. On March 5, 2014, he was named man of the match as England beat Denmark 1–0.

On May 12, 2014, Sterling was chosen for England's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In a friendly match before the tournament, he received a red card after a clash with an opponent. On June 14, Sterling started in England's first group match against Italy. He was rated as the team's best player.

On March 27, 2015, Sterling scored his first goal for England. This was in a 4–0 win against Lithuania. He scored his second goal in October 2015. He was part of the England squad for the 2016 European Championship.

He was also named in the England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. After not scoring for England in 27 games, Sterling scored twice against Spain in October 2018. England won the match 3–2.

Sterling scored his first hat-trick for England on March 22, 2019. This was in a 5–0 win over the Czech Republic. In October 2019, he scored two goals against Bulgaria. This made him the Manchester City player with the most goals for England.

In November 2019, Sterling was briefly left out of the England team. This was after a disagreement with a teammate.

On June 13, 2021, Sterling scored the only goal against Croatia. This helped England start their UEFA Euro 2020 campaign with a win. He scored again against the Czech Republic and Germany. England reached the final of the tournament. In the semi-final against Denmark, Sterling won a penalty. This led to England's winning goal.

Sterling playing for England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

On November 21, 2022, Sterling scored England's third goal in their opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. England won 6–2 against Iran. On December 4, Sterling left the England World Cup squad. This was because his home was burgled while his family was there. He later rejoined the team. His last appearance for England was in the quarter-final match against France.

Playing Style

Sterling can play as a winger, an attacking midfielder, or a striker. He is known for being adaptable and able to play in different positions. He is praised for his speed, low center of gravity, and dribbling skills. His former manager, Brendan Rodgers, compared him to Alexis Sánchez. Rodgers also said Sterling offers a "real threat" with his pace and composure. Even though he is not very tall, he is strong. This helps him keep the ball and withstand challenges.

Former Barcelona player Xavi said in 2014 that Sterling was good enough to play for Barcelona. He praised Sterling's physical and technical abilities. A BBC Sport writer said Sterling was "very good with the potential to be outstanding." He also noted Sterling's "natural pace that makes even the best defences and defenders take a step back."

Personal Life

Sterling has a daughter named Melody Rose, born in 2012. His middle name, Shaquille, comes from his grandmother. She named him after the famous basketball player Shaquille O'Neal.

In June 2017, after the Grenfell Tower fire, Sterling made a large donation to help those affected. On December 16, 2017, Sterling was attacked outside Manchester City's training ground. The attacker used racist language. Four days later, the attacker was sentenced to prison. The Guardian praised Sterling for his strength in playing a game just hours after the attack.

Sterling has a tattoo of an M16 rifle on his leg. He received some criticism for it. Sterling explained that the tattoo has a deeper meaning. It refers to his father, who was killed when Sterling was two years old. Some people have criticized how British tabloid newspapers, like The Sun, report on Sterling. They say the articles are unfair and sometimes racist.

Sterling has been named one of the 100 most influential Black Britons. He was included in the annual Powerlist in 2020 and 2021. In the 2021 Birthday Honours, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This was for his work towards racial equality in sport.

In November 2021, Sterling started his own charity, the Raheem Sterling Foundation. It aims to "educate, empower and inspire young people." He launched it at his former school. Sterling said the foundation is based on his own experiences and challenges. He wants to help young people achieve their best.

Sterling lives in Oxshott, Surrey. During the 2022 World Cup, his house was burgled. His fiancée and children discovered this when they returned home. Sterling flew back to London from Qatar. He later rejoined the England team.

Sponsorships

In 2012, Sterling signed a sponsorship deal with Nike. He appeared in an advertisement for Nike in November 2012. In January 2013, he modeled new Nike boots. Starting in 2020, Sterling became an ambassador for Gillette. He appeared in their UK adverts. In May 2021, he announced a multi-year deal with New Balance. He wears their Furon v6+ boots.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances and Goals

Honours and Awards

Manchester City

• Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22
• FA Cup: 2018–19
• Football League Cup/EFL Cup: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
• FA Community Shield: 2019
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2020–21

Chelsea

• EFL Cup runner-up: 2023–24

England

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2020
• UEFA Nations League third place: 2018–19

Individual Awards

• Liverpool Young Player of the Season: 2013–14, 2014–15
• Golden Boy: 2014
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Group Stage: 2015–16
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2018–19, 2019–20
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 2016, November 2018, December 2021
• PFA Team of the Year: 2018–19 Premier League
• PFA Young Player of the Year: 2018–19
• FWA Footballer of the Year: 2018–19
• Sports Illustrated Premier League Team of the Decade: 2010–2019
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2020

Orders

• Member of the Order of the British Empire: 2021